Chapter 17.67 — SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS

All industrial and manufacturing operations shall be conducted within an enclosed structure unless specifically allowed by the Review Authority or the permissions table. Any allowable outdoor operations shall be adequately screened from public view pursuant to Divisions 8 and 9 of this Title and applicable policies of the General Plan.

(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

Industrial uses shall operate pursuant to PMC Chapter 17.84 (Performance Standards). When industrial uses are located next to residential uses, industrial operations shall not produce noise levels in excess of those allowed for uses in residential areas as stipulated in the Noise Element of the General Plan between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., daily. (Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

In addition to the provisions of PMC Chapter 17.87 (Off-Street Parking and Loading), all industrial development shall comply with the following parking standards:

• (A) Surface parking shall be located to the side or to the rear of primary buildings to the greatest extent feasible; and

• (B) Surface parking spaces for employees and guests may incorporate shade structures that are capable of supporting solar/photovoltaic array systems with a minimum clearance height of 12 feet.

• (Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

In addition to the provisions of PMC § 17.86.010 (Landscaping requirements), all industrial development shall select and plant trees to provide shade for walkways, outdoor seating areas, parking areas etc., and for their ability for filtering particulate matter and other pollutants from the air.

(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

Lot division and building layouts for properties which adjoin existing or proposed lead and spur lines shall be designed in order to ensure full potential of future rail access to other properties adjacent to such rail lines. Subdivision proposals which could reduce the capacity of a property to accommodate potential rail-served development may be proposed, but shall be approved at the discretion of the Review Authority.

(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

Private streets serving industrial developments shall have a minimum vehicle access width of 40

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City of Palmdale, CA

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feet.

(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

Sidewalks shall be provided within the public right-of-way along all regional and crosstown streets, as depicted in the General Plan. Sidewalks may be required along connector and neighborhood streets, or this requirement may be waived by the Review Authority as part of the development review process.

(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

Any portion of a lot or parcel used for outdoor storage, loading, parking, or other allowed outside use shall be paved according to the standards provided in PMC Chapter 17.87 (Off-Street Parking and Loading), except that the Review Authority may approve a reduction in the area required to be paved where it is determined that such area will be adequately screened and dustproofed, and that construction of additional improvements is unnecessary. The site shall be dustproofed with a surface approved by the Director and the City Engineer wherever the site is not paved or landscaped.

• (Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

No balconies, stairways, windows, or other areas where people could look out onto adjacent Plant 42 properties shall be allowed above the first floor on the side of a structure which faces the Plant 42 property.

• (Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

No balconies, stairways, or other areas where people could look out onto adjacent residential properties shall be allowed above the first floor on the side of a structure which faces property designated for single-family use.

(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

• (A) Purpose and Applicability. The purpose of this Section is to improve the overall design and appearance of industrial development in the City. The following design standards shall apply to new industrial development and major modifications to existing industrial development. Projects shall be evaluated for the extent to which they meet the design standards as part of the site plan review process. The following standards are minimum requirements. The Review Authority may approve modifications or deviations from the standards of this Section upon finding that the purposes of this Section are achieved and the modification or deviation results in a project of equal or better design quality.

• (B) Site Layout. Industrial buildings shall have a positive street presence and contribute to an attractive street scene by orienting buildings toward the primary street frontage. Public entrances and administrative/office areas shall front the street. Primary entries should be clearly distinguished from secondary and service entries. Projects shall attempt to place

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City of Palmdale, CA § 17.67.110

PALMDALE CODE

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entries and the most active areas near the street to avoid long, "unguarded" walkways. Buildings shall be sited in a manner that screens loading and storage areas from public view.

• (C) Massing, Form and Scale. Buildings within a project shall be related in terms of bulk and mass, but shall not be identical. Repetitive building units that produce monotonous elevations shall be avoided through use of varying building forms, placement, color, materials, and landscaping. In addition, the scale and mass of a new industrial development shall be consistent with neighboring developments and not overwhelm them with disproportionate size or incompatible design. Special care shall be taken to achieve compatibility next to small-scale buildings; techniques should include at minimum building articulation and limiting size.

• (D) Building Articulation and Detailing. Building design shall employ clean, simple geometric forms and coordinated massing to produce an overall sense of unity, scale, and interest. Building design shall avoid large monotonous facades, long straight-line building fronts, plain box shapes, and barren exterior treatments. All building elevations visible from a public right-of-way or visitor parking area shall be well-articulated and incorporate the chosen design theme in a consistent manner. Building walls over 100 feet in length shall contain a system of articulating architectural elements creating visually distinct subvolumes through the incorporation of two or more of the following:

  • (1) Changes in the surface plane (projections/recesses);

  • (2) Variation in roof form and/or height;

  • (3) Placement of windows and entries;

  • (4) Variation in fenestration;

  • (5) Variation in color, materials, and/or textures; and/or

  • (6) Screening devices such as lattices, louvers, shading devices, perforated metal screens, or similar strategies.

• (E) Building Orientation and Entrances. Building entries shall read as such, and be integrated with the overall building form. Public entries shall be defined and emphasized through variation in building height, wall plane, roof treatment, window placement, architectural detailing, etc. Variation in material, texture, and/or color is also recommended as a means of identifying building entries.

• (F) Materials, Finishes, and Color.

  • (1) Compatibility. High-quality materials and finishes appropriate to the architectural style, scale, character, and design theme of the building shall be used, such as masonry, tile, stone, stucco, architectural grade wood, brick, glass, and finished metal. Materials, finishes and colors shall unify a structure's appearance and be selected in a manner that works harmoniously with each other.

  • (2) Durable Materials. Exterior design and building materials shall reflect permanence and quality. Graffiti-resistant materials and paints shall be utilized. Recommended materials include masonry, concrete, sandblasted concrete, textured block, brick, granite, marble, glass, tile, painted metal elements, and similar materials.

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• (3) Secondary Elevations. Buildings shall be treated as a whole and finished appropriately on all sides to appear integral to the building and avoid appearing "tacked on." Backs of buildings shall use similar materials; however, less expensive and utilitarian substituted materials are acceptable, provided they are compatible with the overall design.

• (4) Material Changes at Corners. Material changes shall not occur at corners. The same material shall continue around corners for a minimum distance of four feet. If feasible, the same material should continue to the next change in the wall plane.

• (5) Variation in Materials and Colors. The number of materials and colors used on the exterior of a building should be limited so that there is visual simplicity and harmony; unusual patterns and color schemes and nonharmonious and out-of-character colors shall be avoided. These colors should be used as follows:

  • (a) Base colors shall be used on the majority of the building surface and should be the lightest;

  • (b) Secondary colors shall be used to accentuate facade elements or upper floors; and

  • (c) Accent colors shall be used sparingly to highlight moldings, trims and/or signage.

  • (d) Up to two additional colors may be used on the base to distinguish between upper and lower floors or as an additional secondary color.

• (6) Roof Materials. Where visible from the street, acceptable roofing materials include metal standing seam and concrete tile. Corrugated metal (standing rib metal) roofing is permitted. Highly reflective surfaces and illuminated roofing are prohibited.

• (G) Common Open Space Design.

  • (1) Minimum dimensions of 15 feet in any direction shall be provided;

• (2) A maximum of 40 percent of the outdoor common open space may be covered but cannot be enclosed. Common open space is considered enclosed when the space between a floor, decking, or ground level and a roof structure has sides taller than 50 inches in height on more than two sides;

  • (3) Courtyards enclosed on four sides shall have a minimum dimension of 40 feet and have a minimum courtyard width to building height ratio of 1.25:1;

  • (4) Open space shall include places to sit and shade structures:

    • (a) A minimum of 20 percent of the open space area shall be planted with trees, ground cover, and/or shrubs; and

    • (b) Slopes shall not exceed five percent.

(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023; Ord. 1641 § 4 (Exh. A), 2024)

(A) Special Requirements. In order to comply with the provisions of the California Surface

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City of Palmdale, CA

PALMDALE CODE

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Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA; P.R.C. Sec. 2710 et seq.), P.R.C. Sec. 2207, and Title 14, Division 8, Section 3500 et seq. of the California Code of Regulations, all mining-related activities covered under SMARA shall require the preparation of reclamation plans and annual reports, provision of financial assurances, and the conducting of annual inspections, as specified in PMC Chapter 17.102 (Surface Mining and Reclamation).

• (B) Additional Accessory Uses and Structures Permitted. In addition to the allowed uses listed in Table 17.65.020-1 (Allowed Uses – Industrial Zones), the following accessory uses and structures are also allowed in the MRE zone; provided, that such uses are established on the same lot or parcel of land, are incidental to, and do not substantially alter the character of the allowed principal use:

  • (1) Incidental sales of gravel, sand, decorative stone, or other mineral materials.

  • (2) Office and repair shop structures.

  • (3) Scales or weighing equipment.

  • (4) Truck storage.

  • (5) Other uses deemed by the Review Authority that function as incidental to an allowed primary use and which are similar to and not more objectionable than those accessory uses specifically listed above.

• (C) Special Development and Performance Standards.

  • (1) General. Unless specified otherwise in this Section, any signage, fencing, landscaping, parking, loading, trash enclosures, or similar requirements shall conform to the applicable provisions of Division 8 (General Development Standards) of this Title.

  • (2) Required Signage. The outer boundaries of all properties used for quarrying operations, involving the extraction and processing of rock, sand, gravel, decomposed granite, clay, or similar materials, shall be posted with signs carrying the message "QUARRY ZONE" in letters not less than four inches in height; and in letters not less than one inch in height, the message "This property may be used for the extraction and processing of rock, sand, gravel, decomposed granite, clay, and similar materials, by Ordinance, City of Palmdale." These signs shall be posted not more than 500 feet apart, with signs placed at each change in direction of the boundary lines of the property and displayed in such a manner as to give reasonable notice to passersby of the message contained thereon.

  • (3) Performance Standards. All mining and quarrying operations, rock crushing plants, and aggregate dryers shall be established and operated pursuant to the following standards:

    • (a) Noise and Vibration. All equipment and premises employed in conjunction with any of the uses allowed in the MRE zone shall, to the extent that is practicable and feasible, be constructed, operated, and maintained to suppress noise and vibration which are or may be injurious or annoying to persons living in the vicinity.

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City of Palmdale, CA

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• (b) Dust. All private unpaved roads shall be kept wet while being used or shall be oiled or hard-surfaced and maintained to prevent the emanation of dust.

• (c) Paving. All private access roads leading off any public street or highway onto property used for any purpose allowed in this zone shall be paved, with asphalt or concrete surfacing not less than three- and one-half inches in thickness, for the first 50 feet of said access road.

• (d) Slope. No excavation or production from an open pit quarry shall be allowed which creates a slope steeper than one foot horizontally to one foot vertically.

• (e) Distance. No excavation or production shall be allowed nearer than 25 feet of the boundary of the MRE zone.

• (f) Setback. No production shall be allowed nearer than 25 feet of any lot line of adjoining property in any zone unless the written consent of the owner in fee of such property is first secured and recorded in the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office.

• (g) Fencing. Prior to the start of any quarry operations the outer boundaries of the entire property shall be continuously enclosed by a six-foot-high fence. Where adjacent to a public street or residentially zoned area, required fencing shall be a view obstructing fence, wall, or landscaped berm. Elsewhere, the fence may be constructed of chain link; provided however, that the Review Authority may, without notice or hearing, grant a modification to these fencing requirements where:

  • (i) Such property is located in the bed or flood channel of a wash or water course and such fencing would be impractical; or

  • (ii) Topographic features, locational factors or other conditions create an unnecessary hardship or unreasonable situation making it impractical to require compliance with these fencing requirements.

  • All such requests for a modification shall be subject to the provisions of PMC Chapter 17.102 (Surface Mining and Reclamation).

• (h) Hours of Operation. All uses allowed in the MRE zone which are not conducted within an enclosed structure shall occur between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except in cases of public emergency or emergency building repairs.

• (Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

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City of Palmdale, CA